Collapsible desk or carrell structure



Nov. 13, 1962 P. A. RosENQUlsT' ETAL coLLAPsIBLE DESK 0R CARRELLSTRUCTURE Filed Oct. 21, 1959 m \J V d.. S 2J a J Mw a 0x1 2 w .f MHAN\Va 7./5 WM 2 4% di ff a f7 ATTORNEYS 3,063,773 COLLAPSIBLE DESK R CARRELLSTRUCTURE Paul A. Rosenquist, Warren, and Raymond R. Yaegle,

Tiana, Pa., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Royalmetal Corporation,New York, N.Y., a corporation of Illinois Filed Oct. 21, 1959, Ser. No.847,784 4 Claims. (Ci. S12- 313) This invention relates to collapsibledesk or secretary structures wherein a deck or writing area is providedvand so arranged that it may be folded out of the way when not in use.

The invention especially involves a combination collapsible desk andbook stall of the type provided in libraries to enable a carrell orcubicle to be set up adjoining or interposed between the book stalls orstacks already in use.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedcollapsible desk or secretary unit in combination with and adapted to besupported or carried by the side walls of existing book stalls orsimilar supporting uprights, which unit may be readily, quicklysubstituted for several superposed shelves of the book stall, to convertthe space occupied by said shelves into a study or writing cubicle orcarrell. However, the invention is not wholly limited to suchcombination, since portions of the described embodiments may haveutility apart from their use in conjunction with book stalls.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved collapsibletype Carrell or desk unit as above set forth, which by means of existingstandard shelf brackets may be mounted in a book stall to replaceseveral shelves.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved carrell ordesk structure adapted to be incorporated in a book stall, wherein thedeck or desk surface may be easily folded to an out-oftheway positionwherein it does not project from the front edges of the stall supportsor uprights.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improvedcarrell structure as above characterized, wherein the foldable deck maybe entirely, easily and quickly removed in the event that this should bedesired.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improvedcarrell or collapsible desk unit as outlined, which is sturdy andreliable in use, and is constituted of relatively few, simple parts orcomponents which may be economically fabricated and produced, especiallyutilizing sheet metal.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of acollapsible desk or Carrell unit for use with a book stall, wherein theunit upon removal may be provided with legs so as to constitute aportable type carrell.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a unitary,collapsible carrell or desk structure adaptable for use in place ofseveral shelves of a book stall, wherein a portion of the said structuremay be utilized as one or several shelves, thereby to minimize theamount of space actually taken up by the carrell which is not availablefor the storing of books.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear,

In the drawings accompanying this specification, similar characters ofreference are used to designate like components throughout the severalviews, in which:

FIG. l is a front elevational view on a greatly reduced scale, of animproved carrell or collapsible desk unit mounted between two sideuprights of a book stall or shelving unit such as is commonly providedin libraries.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View, somewhat enlarged,taken on the line 22 of FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view partially in vertical section and partiallyin elevation, showing enlarged some $063,773 Patented Nov. 13, 1962 tirwhat further a portion of the device illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 4 4 of FIG.3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View, taken on the line 5-5of FIG. 4.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional type of book stall 10is shown, having spaced uprights 12 in the form of side walls betweenwhich shelves may be supported, as for example the shelf 14 illustratedin the gures. Usual or conventional type shelf brackets 16 may -beutilized to support the shelf 14, the said brackets being carried byslotted portions 18` of the uprights 12 in the usual manner.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a novel collapsiblecarrell or desk unit adapted to be mounted on the uprights l2 in placeof several of the shelves 14 which have rst been removed from the saiduprights. The said carrell unit comprises an enclosure or hood 20 and afoldable deck or platform 22 adapted to constitute a writing area ordesk top, the said platform being hingedly connected to the lowerportion of the hood 20 in a unique manner whereby it may be eithersupported horizontally when in use, or else swung downward to anoutof-the-way position when not in use, or else entirely removed frornthe hood, whichever arrangement may be desired. The width of the hood2lb is such that it may be snugly litted between the uprights 12, andthe said structure is so arranged and constituted that it may besupported on the uprights by means of the usual or conventional shelfbrackets, such as the brackets 16 shown in FIG. 2. To accommodate thecarrell unit preferably three of the book shelves are first removed fromthe book stall, and in FIG. 1 a remaining book shelf 14 is illustrated,disposed below the Carrell unit which has been installed to replace thethree removed shelves.

The hood 20 may comprise a back wall 24 and a top wall 26 extendingforward from the upper edge of the back wall 24 and terminating in arounded front depending ange 28 having an inturned or rearwardlyextended edge 30. The hood 2i) may further comprise side walls 32 eachof which may be constituted of two metal sheets 34 and 36 disposed inclosely spaced relation and connected along their front vertical edgesby a marginal facing strip 3d which is preferably constituted as anintegral part of one of the sheets 34, 36.

The sheets 34, 36 of the side walls 32 may be joined to the rear wall 24and top wall 26 in any suitable manner, Vas by welding, spot welding,securing together flanged edges, etc.

T he inner sheets 36 of the side walls are provided with slottedportions 40 by which a shelf 42 may be supported within the hood 2t),said shelf being adjustable for height by shifting its mounting means toeffect engagement with different slotted portions located at differentlevels.

At the rear of the hood 20, extending horizontally across the back wall24 thereof and spaced a slight distance above the lowermost edge of theback wall there is provided a ledge member 44 which may be generally ofangular cross section as shown in FIG. 2, having an upturned front edge46 whereby the member may constitute a pencil and pen rest. Further, theledge member 44 is arranged to act as an abuttable cleat for engagementby the deck or platform 22 to support the latter in a horizontal,operative position. This is clearly shown in FIG. 2.

The deck or platform 22 may be formed in various ways. As shown it isconstituted of sheet metal, having a top writing surface or area 48,having yfront and rear depending flanges Sil, 511 respectively, andhaving depending side flanges 52, thereby to provide a marginalframework tending to stiffen and reinforce the top portion 48. As shownin FIG. 2, the front and rear den which are arranged to extend intohorizontal slots 6ft disposed in the inner sheets 36 of the side wallsof the hood 20. Further, the hinge pins 58 have oppositely extendingprojections or ears o2 disposed within the side Walls 36 andconstituting in effect flattened heads on the hinge pins. The width ofthe ears 62- is slightly less than the width of the slots 6i), as seenin FIG. 5, thereby to enable the hinge pins to be inserted in andremoved from the slots 6@ when the ears are properly positioned. Also,the front .facing strips 38 have cut-outs or openings 64 which meet andconstitute continu-ations of the slots 60, whereby removal of the hingepins S and ears 62 thereof forwardly in a direction of the side walls 36is made possible upon proper positioning of the said ears.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the hinge pins 58 and ears 62 are disposedin a particular manner, with respect to the plane of the platform 22,the arrangement being such that the ears extend diagonally or at anacute angle with respect to the said plane. For example, referring toFIG. 3 the dotted outline indicated at 66 shows the positions of theears 62 when the platform 22 isin the full line horizontal positionindicated. For such position, the hinge pins 53 will be lo-cked in theslots 66, 64, preventing the platform or deck from being removed fromthe hood 20.

Considering Vnow FIG. 2, the pivotally mounted platform 22 may bereleasably held in an operative horizontal position by bringing the rearedge of the platform under the edge member 44 and in engagement withsaid member and the back wall 24 of the hood. When it is desired to foldthe deck or platform 22 out of the way, this may be easily and quicklyaccomplished by pulling the platform forward a slight distance aspermitted by the slots 60, thereby to disengage the rear edge oftheplatform from the ledge member 44. The front portion of the platform maynow be swung downward and backward with the rear portion swinging upwardand forward, whereby the platform may assume a vertical position asindicated by the broken outline designated by the character 7d. it willbe seen that such vertical or folded position of the platform 22disposes it out of the way and substantially in line with the frontedges of the stall supports 12. When the occasion arises to again usethe platform 22 it may be easily and quickly swung to its operativeposition by merely grasping the lower edge of the platform and swingingit upward while continuing to pull forward thereon. When the platformhas been brought to a horizontal position it is then shiftedhorizontally backward to engage the rear edge with the ledge member 44,as shown in FIG. 2.

In accordance with the invention, the platform or deck 22 may be easilyentirely removed from the hood 2i), when this should be desired. Inorder to effect such removal, the platform 22 is swung upward from itshorizontal position to the dotted line position 72 shown iny FIG. 2.This position is also shown in broken outline in FIG. 3. The ears 62 ofthe hinge pins 58 are now alignedV horizontally with the front portions64 of the slots 69 whereupon a forward translational movement of thedeck or platform 22 will enable the hinge pins to be entirely removedfrom the supporting slotsV 6i), 64. TheV deck or platform 22 is nowentirely free of the hood 2t) and may be used or placed as desired.

-In installing the Carrell unit in the book stall initially, it is moreconvenient to attach the hood to the side walls 12 while the platform 22is detached from the hood. Upon this installation being completed, theplat- 4 form may be easily installed in the hood in a manner exactlyopposite to the removal of the platform as explained above.

It will be noted from an inspection of FIG. 2, that after initialinstallation of the carrell unit, the space above the shelf 14 isavailable for the storage of books. Also, the top wall 26 of the carrellconstitutes an additional shelf on which books may be placed and stored,in addition to the shelf 42 located within the hood 20.

It will now be understood from the foregoing that I have provided anovel and improved collapsible Carrell or desk unit which may be easilyand quickly incorporated in a book stall in place of several ,shelveswhich are removed. The carrell unit is simple in construction, economical to fabricate, and is sturdy and reliable in use. It provides aconvenient place for reading or writing, and takes up a minimum of spacein the book stall, enabling the maximum amount of area of said stall tobe utilized in storing or holding books. The setting up and folding ofthe deck or platform may be easily and quickly effected, and does notrequire any special mechanical ability or skill. Where occasion demandsit, the deck 2 2 may be entirely removed from the unit; normally when itis folded and out of use, it does not project beyond the front edges ofthe side supports 12 of the book stall. When the collapsible carrellunit is not used in conjunction with a book stall, the deck 22 may beprovided with removable legs, whereby the -unit constitutes a portableCarrell or desk adapted to be supported on a door surface.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims,and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

We claim:

1. In combination, a book stall comprising a pair of spaced apartsubstantially at side Walls, a plurality of opposed shelf supportingmeans carried by each of said side walls at vertically spaced intervalsthereon, a book shelf supported on some of said oppositely disposedsupport ing means, a carrell unit supported in said book stall in spacedrelationship to said book shelf, said carrell unit being removablysupported on another shelf supporting means between said side walls,said carrell unit including a pair of spaced apart double walled sidepanels and a back wall connected between said double walled side panels,each of said double walled side panels including an inner panel, aspaced outer panel and a front facing strip interconnecting said innerand outer panels, a horizontally extending ledge connected to said backwall, said ledge having an upturned front edge to define a troughadapted to serve as a pencil holder, a writing surface mounted betweensaid double walled side panels and means for pivotally mounting saidwriting surface between the inner panels for rotation between avertically disposed inoperative position and a horizontally disposedoperative position whereby the rear portion of said writing surfaceabuts against said ledge to limit the movement of said writing surfaceand enables said writing surface to be releasably maintained inoperative horizontal position, said pivoting means including a pin andslot connection, said connection being constructed so as to permit saidwriting surface to be rendered readily detachable from said doublewalled side panels.

2. In combination, a book stall comprising a pair of spaced apartsubstantially flat side Walls, opposed shelf supporting means connectedto each of said side walls, a carrell unit detachably connected in saidbook stall, said carrell unit being removably supported on said shelfsupporting means, `said carrell unit including a pair of spaced apartdouble walled side panels, a back panel interconnected between saidpanels, and a top panel connected to said back and side panels, each ofsaid double walled side panels Yincluding an inner panel, an outer panelspaced therefrom, and a front facing strip interconnecting said innerand outer panels, a horizontal ledge connected to the rear panel, Vsaidledge extending forwardly of said rear panel, a writing surface mountedbetween the spaced inner panels of said carrell unit adjacent the frontedge thereof, means for pivotally mounting said writing surface to saidpanels for rotation between a vertically disposed inoperative positionand a horizontally disposed operative position whereby the rear portionof said writing surface abuts against said ledge to limit the movementof said writing surface so that said writing surface is releasablymaintained in its opreative horizontal position, said pivoting meansincluding opposed pins connected to the sides of said writing surface,and a cooperating horizontally disposed slot formed in the 4inner panelsand connected front facing of each side panels of said carrell unit forreceiving said pins, each of said pins hav-ing oppositely disposedlaterally extending ears, said ears having a width less than that of thecooperating slot receiving the same, and said ears being angularlydisposed with respect to the center line of the cooperating slot whensaid writing surface is disposed in both the operative and inoperativepositon so as to prevent unintentional disengagement of said writingsurface from said side panels, and ears being horizontally disposed inalignment with said cooperating slot when said writing surface isdisposed at an intermediate position between said operative andinoperative positions thereof for rendering said writing surface readilydetachable.

3. -In combination, a book stall comprising a pair of spaced apartsubstantially flat side walls, a plurality of opposed shelf supportingmeans connected to each of said side Walls, said shelf supporting meansbeing spaced at vertically spaced intervals on said side walls, a bookshelf supported on some of said oppositely disposed shelf supportingmeans, a carrell unit detachably connected in said book stall invertically spaced relationship to said book shelf, said carrell unitbeing removably supported on other shelf supporting means, said carrellunit including a pair of spaced apart double walled side panels, a backpanel interconnected between said panels, and a top panel connected tosaid back and side panels, each of said double walled side panelsincluding an inner panel, an outer panel spaced therefrom, and a frontfacing strip interconnecting said inner and outer panels, a horizontalledge connected to the rear panel, said ledge extending forwardly ofsaid rear panel and having an upturned front edge to deline a troughadapted to serve as a pencil holder, a writing surface mounted betweenthe spaced inner panels of said carrell unit adjacent the front edgethereof, means for pivotally mounting said writing surface to saidpanels for rotation Ibetween a vertically disposed inoperative positionand a horizontally disposed operative position whereby the rear portionof said writing surface abuts against said ledge to limit the movemnetof said writing surface so that said writing surface is releasablymaintained in its operative horizontal position, said pivoting meansincluding opposed pins connected to the sides of said writing surface,and a cooperating horizontally disposed slot for-med in the inner panelsand connected front facing of each side panels of said carrell unit forreceiving said pins, each of said pins having oppositely disposedlaterally extending ears, said ears having a width less than that of thecooperating slot in said inner panel, and said ears being .angularlydisposed with' respect to the centerline of the cooperating slot whensaid writing surface is disposed in both the operative and inoperativeposition thereof so as to prevent unintentional disengagement of saidwriting surface from 4said vside panels, and said ears beinghorizontally disposed in alignj ment with said slot when said writingsurface is disposed at an intermediate position `between said operativeand inoperative positions thereof for rende-ring said writing surfacereadily detachable.

4. A carrell unit comprising a pair' of spaced apait double walled sidepanels, a back panel interconnected between said panels, and a top panelconnected to said back and side panels, each of said double walled sidepanels including an inner panel, an outer panel spaced therefrom, and afront facing strip interconnecting said inner and outer panels, ahorizontal ledge connected to the rear panel, said ledge extendingforwardly of said rear panel and having an upturned front edge to definea trough adapted to serve as a pencil holder, a writing surface mountedbetween the spaced inner panels of said unit adjacent the front endthereof, means for pivotally mounting said writing surface to saidpanels for rotation between a vertically disposed inoperative positionand a horizontally disposed operative position whereby the rear portionof said writing surface abuts against said ledge to limit the movementof said writing surface so that said writing surface is releasablymaintained in its operative horizontal position, said pivoting meansincluding opposed pins connected to the sides of said writing surface,and a cooperating horizontally disposed slot formed in the inner panelsand connected front facing of each side panels of said carrell unit forreceiving said pins, each of said pins having oppositely disposedlaterally extending ears, said ears having a width less than that of thecooperating slot in said inner panel, and said ears 'being angularlydisposed with respect to the center line of the cooperating slot whensaid writing surface is `disposed in yboth the operative and inoperativeposition thereof so as to prevent unintentional disengagement of saidwriting surface from said side panels, and said ears being horizontallydisposed in alignment with said slot when said writing surface isdisposed at an intermediate position between said operative andinoperative positions thereof for rendering said writing surface readilydetachable.

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